An Imo State High Court has ordered the speedy trial of 5 individuals accused of kidnapping potential National Youth Service Corps members, directing that the defendants stay within the custody of the Department of State Services.
Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, on Thursday, scheduled 4 days of proceedings from October 27 to 30 for the continuation of the trials.
The decide urged prosecution and defence counsel to cooperate with the court docket to make sure that judgment is delivered earlier than January 2027.
The proceedings concerned three defendants accused of abducting 20 potential NYSC members on Independence Day and two others dealing with expenses in a separate kidnapping case.
During the listening to, a DSS officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified concerning the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants within the NYSC-related case.
He advised the court docket that the investigation concerned intelligence gathering, knowledge evaluation, report checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
Emmanuel additionally stated an identification parade was carried out, throughout which victims and witnesses recognized the defendants as members of the gang that allegedly kidnapped them.
The officer additional advised the court docket that one of many defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his assertion to taking part within the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 folks have been concerned.
He maintained that the defendants’ statements have been obtained within the presence of their authorized representatives and DSS authorized officers.
In the separate case involving two different defendants, the DSS officer additionally testified that their statements have been taken within the presence of their attorneys and DSS authorized officers.
Justice Orafu adjourned the circumstances to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of listening to and ordered that each one 5 defendants stay in DSS custody.
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